The best accommodations Zanzibar Archipelago

Budget & Tips

There are a growing number of excellent, more affordable addresses opening up in Zanzibar (Pemba and Mafia remain confidential islands, reserved for wealthy divers), particularly in Stone Town, Nungwi, Jambiani, Pajé and Michamvi, but it's fair to say that they can now be found all along the coast. In recent years, however, prices have risen to a minimum of US$60 for a double room with breakfast, and as low as US$40 with shared bathroom, but with spartan comfort. These are usually woven palm-leaf bandas on the sand. You'll also find plenty of well-designed, clean hostels in the same towns, again under vast bandas, or air-conditioned hard-standing hostels in Stone Town for US$25 a bed in a dormitory.

If you're staying on the coast, remember to book a hotel with a swimming pool, so that you can swim easily at low tide, if you can afford it. When the barrier reef rears its ugly head, there are only "swimming channels", but you have to walk a long way down the beach to reach them. At Kendwa and Nungwi, there is no barrier reef, only sand, and you can swim at low or high tide.

To be booked

During Stone Town's cultural festival season, make sure you book in advance: hotel accommodation is scarce at this time. During the whale shark migration in the warm waters of Mafia, remember to book your lodge, as there are very few hotels on this island, and they are taken by storm as soon as the season arrives for this large, magnificent cetacean to be observed from September to February.

What's very local

There are an increasing number of Airbnb home rentals, small local houses for rent at low prices. There are no particular security problems in Zanzibar; on the contrary, you feel very safe. The hotels are mostly guarded by Maasai, who come from the mainland as seasonal workers or live in Zanzibar all year round.

For food lovers

Breakfasts are usually served in the form of gargantuan buffets with lots of tropical fruit (papaya, pineapple, mango, watermelon, fragrant local pomelo, etc.); in luxury hotels, you can ask for an espresso in addition to the instant coffee served, but it's usually extra. As a savoury dish, you'll be offered eggs, but the spanish omelette you'll be served everywhere isn't really spanish at all: it's a mixture of red onions, green and red peppers and cheese in an omelette.

Smokers

Smoking is permitted on the private terraces of the bungalows, which are all equipped as standard. There are always common areas with outdoor bars and ashtrays in the hotels, so the concept of non smoking hotels has not made it this far.

Tourist traps

Beware of ads on hotel booking sites for guest houses, which abound on the Internet, with few or no reviews (less than 30 reviews). Be vigilant, as photos can be misleading, there are many less-than-serious addresses, and in Zanzibar, you need a generator to ensure a reasonable supply of electricity and hot water, sufficient sanitation to keep mattresses, mosquito nets and sanitary facilities clean, a Maasai to guard the lodge, etc. Book with a minimum recommended structure.